Telegraph or telephone system



(No Mmdel.) 2 SheetsSheet 1;

- W. R. KIRK.

TELEGRAPH 0R TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Nd. 510,430. Patented De. 12, 1893.

I QYQ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

W. R.KIRK. TELEGRAPH OR TELEPHONE SYSTEM. No. 510,430. Patented Dec. 12, 1893.

IVALLAUE R. KIRK, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TELEGRAPH OR TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

SPECIFIQATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 510,430, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed November 3, 1892. Serial No. 450,805. (No model.)

To all whom it truly concern.-

Be it known that I, \VALLAOE R. KIRK, of

Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph or Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. My invention relatesto an improved telegraph ortelephone system, and the object is to provide a secret service telegraph or telephone that will cause a message or conversation between two fixed and corresponding points to travel over changing intermediate conductors, which changes are automatically made at short intervals of Lime, so that communication over the same may not be intelligently intercepted. I

To the above purpose, my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In order that my invention maybe fully on derstood, I will proceed to describe it, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure 1. is a diagrammatic plan view of the electrical connections arranged for use between a central point and two outer points or between two extreme or outer points. Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a pair of the instruments, one of which is located at each end of a system of electric wires or conductors, and which operate simultaneously, the casings being broken away. Fig. 3. is a top plan view of -the electric and mechanical construction and arrangement of the terminals, located at an intermediate point, and provided with suitable battery and clock connections, of two systems of telegraph, the casin g or housing of said terminals being shown in horizontal section. Fig. t. is a section, taken on the line 44= of Fi 2. Fig. 5. is a detail view in side .aelevation of the revolving cylinder, carrying rarying or shifting con nectionsor cond uctors. Fig. 6. is a face view of the stationary disk, located opposite the end of said cylinder. Fig. 7. is an end elevation of the cylinder, carrying a number of metallic brushes. Fig. 8. is a detail perspective view of the revolving cylinder. Fig. 9. is a face view of the escapement Wheel. Fig. 10. is a plan view, showing the mechanism by which a circuit is made and broken alternately, and Fig. 11. is a detached perspective view of the escapement drum or spool and weight adapted to operate said drum or spool.

Before entering upon a detailed description of the invention, I would state thata casing or receptacle is provided at each office, containing, preferably, the terminals of two systems, or it may contain the terminals of two or any number of pairs of systems desired; for exainpl e,the terminals ending at Bufialo, of Chicago and Buffalo, and New York and Buffalo systems, as shown, or it may contain, also, in a casing large enough for the purpose, the terminals of Kansas City and Buifalo, and \Vashington and Buffalo; or it may be a room, and contain the terminals of all pairs of systems leading intoand out of Buffalo, at. I kept locked from outside interference, the wiring extending to the sending and receiving tables in an adjoining room as will be readily understood.

In the drawings,l designates 'acasing, which is located in the office and contains the terminals at the end of each system,or which may contain the terminals of two or more systems, and which is kept locked and sealed from outside interference.

Located at opposite ends of each casing are a series of binding posts 44, corresponding in number to the wires or conductors 5, which are represented as broken away, which connect the binding posts slot the instrument in one station with the'binding posts 4 'of its companion instrument in a distant station. A corresponding number of binding posts 7 are located upon a suitable support 3, inside each casing.

Located in a convenient position without the casing, or in a separate room, are the tele-.

graph keys 2 for the operators. Local wires 6, corresponding in number with the wires. 5,

connect each with one of these telegraph-keys and with the binding posts 7 of support 8.

The supports shown in the drawings consist of two upright posts 9, connected at their upper ends by a bar 10, of any suitable insulating material.

Located opposite, and about the same length as the bar 10, is a cylinder 11, of hard rubher or any other suitable insulating material, which is mounted upon a horizontally arranged and revoluble axle, or shaft 12, supported at its opposite ends in bearings 13, at the upper ends of bracket supports 14, which are preferably secured at their lower ends to the base or bottom board of the casing. The cylinder 11 is provided at intervals with annular grooves or recesses 15, corresponding in number with, and located directly opposite, the binding posts 7. Each groove 15 is provided with a ring or band 16 of brass or other suitable conducting material, and metallic brushes 17, projecting from the binding posts 7, contact continually and permanently against the periphery of the rings or hands 16. The cylinder 11 is further provided with the longitudinally extending grooves 18, which correspond in number with and are recessed deeper into the cylinder than the annular grooves 15. These grooves 18 are open at one end of the cylinder, and extend toward the opposite end thereof, each ending successively as the next annular groove 15 is reached. Met-a1 strips or bars 19, of length corresponding, are slipped in the longitudinal grooves 18, and have one end-provided with the outwardly projecting shoulder 20, which is permanetly in contactwith the inner surface of its corresponding ring or band 16, thus forming a longitudinal series of conductors, each in permanent contact at one end with its respective ring or band 16, and at its opposite end with a metallic brush 21, the handle or arm 22 of which'rests in the ends of grooves 13, and are secured to the outer side of strips 19 by screws or other suitable means. The object in providing the outstanding shoulders 20 of metallic conductors 19 is to allow the intermediate portion of said strip to pass the intermediate rings 16 without contact therewith.

Located opposite the end of cylinder 11 is a disk 23, which is supported by means of screws 24, or other suitable means, in the recess or bifurcation 25, in the upper end of a supporting bracket 26, which is suitably secured at its lower end to the flooring or base board of the casing.

Secured in recesses or upon the periphery of the disk 23, which is of hard rubber or other insulating material, by means of screws 27, are the metallicconducting brackets 28, which are provided with the segment shaped arms or plates 29, arranged concentrically to the axis of the cylinder, and against the face of the disk, opposite and adjacent to the end of the cylinder 11, carrying the brushes 21. The radial edges of the plates orarms 29 of brackets 28 are in close proximity, but are not in contact with each other, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The opposite ends of brackets 28 project beyond the outer ace of the disk :23, and have secured thereto binding posts 30, which are connected to the binding posts 4 of the casing by local wires 6, these local wires thus forming a continuation of the main line conductors 5. The shaft projects centrally through the disk 23,anu has. secured thereon between the said disk and its adjacent bearing 13, the drum 31, having a cord 32 secured thereto at one end, and a weight attached at its opposite end, and adapted to operate vertically, as the cord winds or unwinds upon the drum, in the guide sleeve 33, which is secured beneath an opening 34 in the base or flooring of the casing.

Cast integrally with or secured to the drum 31, is a double escapement wheel 35, which is provided with teeth 36, corresponding in length and number, preferably, with the concentrically arranged segment arms or plates 29 of conducting brackets 28.

Projecting centrally and horizontally from the faces of the supporting brackets 26, and a suitable distance below the escapement wheel 35, is an arm 37, the outer end of which is bifurcated at 38, and has the angle of a bell 'crank lever 39 pivoted therein, the upwardly extending arm 40 of which engages alternately the teeth 36 of the double escapement wheel 35, by means of the contracting spring 41 secured to the upper end thereof,=-and at its of)- posite end to the arm 42, extending upward from the arm 37 of supporting bracket 26. Secured centrally to the opposite or lever arm 42 of the bell crank lever, is an armature bar 43 of soft iron, or other suitable metal, and which projects laterally at each side over the poles of an electro-magnet 44, which is attached to the base of the casing, as shown. The. construction and arrangement of the devices described maybe duplicated in each casing, as shown in Fig. 3, to more conveniently arrange and connect up a battery, or other suitable source of electrical current supply, which may operate only one system, and have a separate battery for the other systern, but which is preferably used to operate a pair of systems, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This special battery is connected at the negative pole to the ground by a wire 5, and from the positive pole, a wire a, leads to and from a telegraph-key 2, and a clock mechanism .(hercinafler described) to make and break the circuit alternately to the post 46 a terminal of the coils 45 of the electro-magnet 44 of the Buifalo terminal of the Chicago and Buffalo system; a wire 01; connects the binding-post 47, the other terminal of the coils 45 of the a oresaid electro-magnet 44, with its binding post 7 of the corresponding support 3. A wire y, also leads from the positive pole of the special battery, to and from a telegraph-key 3, and a clock-mechanism to make and break the circuit alternately, to a post 46, a terminal of the coils 45 of the electromagnet 44 of the Buffalo terminal of the New York and Bufialo system; a wire y connects the binding-post 47 the other terminal of the coils 45 of the electro-magnet 44 of the New York and Buifalo system, with its bindingpost 7 of the corresponding support 8, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

As before explained, each casing l preferably contains one of the terminals of each pair of systems, which systems may be entirely separate, or which maybe connected by certain through wires 49, extending from Cii.CFt-O through the Buffalo oflice without interception to New York, as shown in Figs. 1 and .3. The remaining wires 5 lead each to a telegraph-key 2 of the Chicago system, thence through operators batteries 2 and to the ground, while the wires 5 of the New York system. lead to the telegraph-keys 3 of the N w .l'eik system, in the Buffalo ofiice, thence to operator-"s batteries 3 and to ground, with one exception, said wire, after leading to a telegraph-key 3", continuing to the special battery. At the opposite, or Chicago and New York, ends of each system, all the wires lead, respectively, to the telegraph-keys of the Bufalo and Chicago and Buffalo and New York systems, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, thence lead to operators batteries 2 and 3, respectively and are then grounded.

eferring to Fig. 3, itwill be seen that eight wires or conductors, only, are shown, with a correspondingnumberof connections, butv it will be understood that any desired number of wires, with corresponding conductors, may be used, as illustrated in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 1, where eight wires start from Chicago. Four of these wires 49 continue through to New York, while four lead to the Chicago'antil Buffalo telegraphkeys 2; and one of which continues to the special battery. The posts 7 of Chicago casing form the terminals of the system of'stationary wires or conductors 6 5 and 6 in Chicago, and the corresponding posts 7 of Buffalo casing form the other or Buffalo terminal of the Chicago and Buffalo system of stationary wires, extending from Chicago to Buffalo. The Chicago terminal posts '7 counect with the Chicago and Buffalo telegraphkeys 2, through local wires 6, thence through operators batteries 2, to ground in the usual manner, while the Buffalo terminal posts 7 of the same system connect with the Chicago and Buffalo telegraph-keys 2 in Buffalo, through similar local wires 6, and thence with the exception of through wires to New York, and one wire a, which continues to the special battery, as described through operators batteries *2, and to ground. As will be seen from the drawings, one battery or dynamo located in the casing l at the intermediate point, llutl'alo', causes two complete circuits; one passing over wire x, through a telegraphkey and through the clock mechanism, to make and break the circuit alternately, as will be hereinafter referred to, through magnet wire at" to a binding post 7 ot the support 6, thence through certain shifting connections, to a binding post 30, thenccthrough connecting wires t -6 and intermediate wires 5 to binding posts 30 on stationary disk in Chicago casing; through certain shifting connections to post 7, through magnet and through telegraplrkeys, and then to the ground. The opposite pole of the battery being also connected to the ground by wire 2,

of New York casinr, through certain shifting connections to post 7, th rough a telegraph-key, and thence to the ground, thus completing the second circuit from the same battery. A separate battery may be used, as stated,with each system, if desired.

Referring now to the construction of the clock-operated mechanism to make and break the circuit alternately, A designates a drum or spool, which is revolubly mounted upon a shaft 3, supported upon standards C. A cord D is secured to said drum or spool, and is wound thereon, and carries at its free end a pendent weight E, which rotates the drum at certain periods, as hereinafter explained. Each disk-end of said drum orspool has a projection or tooth F, which projects from the peripheries of said disk-ends at diametrically opposite points; the object of these pro jections or teeth will be hereinafter explained. Upon the outer face of one of the disk ends ofthe drum or spool A are the diametrically opposite lugs G and H. A contact-brush I, hears continually against the face of said disk-end and inward of said lugs, and is connected at its opposite end to the wire or. A contact-brush J which is connected to the continuation of the wire as which leads tonne of the telegraph-keys, is located adjacent to and is adapted to be successively contacted by the lugs G and H as the drum or spool revolves, to complete the circuit at intervals. Pivotcd upon the upper end of astandard K to move horizontally is a lever L the rear end of which or gages a zigzag and annular groove M in the periphery of a Wheel N, which is actuated through a cloclemechanism O, the whole of which it is unnecessary to illustrate, being of any suitable construction pre ferred. The operation of the clock mechanism causes the revolution of the wheel N, and the zigzag groove M thereof, engaging the end of the lever causes said lever to operate laterally from side to side. This movement, causes the front end of the lever to alternatcly occupy a position adjacent to the periphery of each disk-endof the drum or spool, and form a stop upon which the projections or teeth of the disk-ends are adapted to suc cessively bear, the arrangement being such that the lever moves laterally from beneath the tooth or projection of one disk-.

too

end, into the path of the other, the weight E causes the drum or spool to make ahalf revo f.

lution, when the second tooth or projection comes in contact with the free endgoft the leg ver, and the revoluble movement of the drum or spool is arrested. This movement continually takes place, and with each complete revolution of the drum or spool, two pulsations are sent over the line, by reason of the two lugs G and H, each contacting with the brush J, during everyrevolution of the drum or pool.

The operation of the device is as follows:- As the current from the special battery, which is entirely independent of the operators batteries, flows through wire a; or y the circuit is made and broken alternately by means of the clock-actuated mechanism described,the electromagnets attract their respective armatures, and withdraw the upper arm of the bell crank lever from its position in advance of the shoulder of one of the teeth of the escapemeut-wheel, allowing the weight to revolve said escapement wheel, until the next succeeding and alternately arranged tooth comes in contact with the upper end of the arm of the lever;-the circuit is now broken by the clock, and the spring 41 causes the elevation of the armature from the coils, and the upper arm of the lever to assume its former position, when the weight descends until the next succeeding topthcomes in contact with the upper end of the arm 40 of the lever. This operation continually goes on, and with every descent of the weight the escapement wheel, secured to the shaft and cylinder 11, with its several connections, move revolubly together and with the shaft, the distance of one tooth.

To clearly illustrate the progress of a message from Bulfalo to Chicago, I will designate a particular local wire 6 fixed or located permanently at each end of the Chicago and Buffalo system. The message, passing from the operators telegraph-key 2 in Buffalo casing, through local wire 6, through the post 7, and the brush connected thereto, the 'ring or annulus always in contact with the brush, the metal strip always in contact with the'ring or annulus, and the brush secured to the opposite end of the metal strip, to the post 30 of the bracket 28;, which happens to be contacted by the brush at the time,and thence through the local wires 6, 5. and 6 to the post 30 of Chicago terminal; from post 30 of Chicago casing, through bracket 28, to the receiving brush which contacts with said bracket at the same instant that the delivering brush contacts with the corresponding bracket in the Buffalo casing at the opposite end of the system, then through the metal strip connected to said receiving brush, the annulus or ring always in contact with the metal strip, and through the brush in permanent contact therewith to the terminal post 7 of the Chicago casing, through the local receiving wire 6 (corresponding to the local receiving wire 6 in the Buffalo casing) to the telegraph-key 2. Throughout the interval of time concurrent in the foregoing description, the device or machine is in a state of absolute rest; thus presenting'an unbroken conductor or closed strip,

circuit from sending to receiving table; but when the predetermined time has elapsed the cylinders will automatically revolve or move synchronously at each end of the system, and cause certain conducting brushes to move from contact with one intermediate electric line conductor into contact with another or second intermediate electric line conductor,- th'us presenting a new channel or intermedi ate conductor with each movement of the brush carrying cylinders, and the conditions belonging to the brushes described are true also of all the corresponding brushes carried by the cylinders, at each end of the system, and the current passing through wire '00, operating clock to make and break the circuit, the electro -magnet of the Chicago and utfalo termifnal, whose armature it attracts, d wire a." tea certain binding post 7 of the Chi: cago and Buifalo support 8, travels simulta neously with the first part of the message through the corresponding brush, annulus or ring, the corresponding metal Stl'iPtOl' bar, and brush, to the first post 30, and conductors or wires 6, 5 and 6, succeeding posts and their respective conductors, engaged by the traveling brush, and arrives in Chicago and passes through the receiving brush, metal annulus or ring, brush and post 7, which correspond to the delivering brush and its connections and post 7 at the Buffalo end of the system, through the electro-magnet located at the Chicago end of the system, and then through the telegraph-key to the ground, attracting the armature of the Chicagi. magnet simultaneously with the armature of the Bufialo magnet, and the weight revolves the escapement wheels and cylinder simultaneously at each endot' the system, thus causing the succeeding fragments of the message arriving in Chicago to pass through a receiving brush and its connections and local wire 6 to telegraph-key, corresponding to the delivering brush and its corresponding connections, and local wire 6" in the Buffalo end of the system, while the message, passing over changing and different intermediate line conductors, begins and ends over corresponding local wires located respectively in the Chicago and Buifalo oflices. The succeeding fragments of the message follow in regular order, and the completed message, as it begins, al so ends completely on one wire, though passing over different and separate intermediate conductors or wires. Owing to the close arrangement of the radial edges of segment plates 29 of stationary disk 23, the brush, upon leaving one segment, is instantly in contact with the next succ eding segment, thus attaining practically a continuous and unbroken current.

Instead of using the double escapement as shown in the drawings, with number of teeth corresponding to the number of wires employed, a similar escapement may be used with the number of teeth double the number of wires, so that two movements of the cuit, in which case cylinder 11 will be necessary to shift or change the connections, thus having the wire use to operate the device practically free for other purposes. The electro-magnet that attracts the armaturc to allow the weight to opcrate the escapement and cylinder ll is preferably of diderent resistance from the electro-magnets of the ordinary telegraphic cirthe battery must be of different strength from those of the ordinary telegraphic circuit, thus allowing the local wire at each end of the system through which the current passes to cause the simultaneous and intermittent movement of the cylinders located at each end of the system, and to be used for signal purposes also. It is to be understood that thecord connecting the weight and drum is to be rewound at necessary intervals by hand 01 by any other suitable means desired.

It' is also desirable to use my improvement in connection with telephones, located, preferably, in different cities, and allowing a conversation, with possibly slight interruptions made by the making and breaking of the circuit, and which would not be noticed in con versation at all, to be carried on, strictlyprivate, and with no danger of being overheard by outside parties desiring to hear such communications.

It will be understood from this description that the principal idea in this invention is to cause each particular message to pass over different line conductors in its passage between certain points. but always beginning and ending on correspondingconductors, thus passingin an unbroken succession from sender to receiver Consequently any one having connections with theintermediate conductors would get only confused fragments of any given message.

It will readily be seen that the operation of this device may be accomplished directly, as shown, or through the medium of the telegraphic relay, the principle and operation of which are so well known and understood that it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the same in this connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. loan improved telegraph or telephone system, a series of line conductors, a progressive circuit closing connection at each end of said series of line conductors, and means for simultaneously moving said connections to successively connect with both ends of each line conductor synchronously, substantially as set forth. a

2. In an improved telegraph or telephone system, a series of line conductors, a progressive circuit closing connection at each end of said series of line conductors, andmeans for intermittently rotating said progressive circuit closing connections simultaneously from the opposite ends of one line conductor to the opposite ends of the next line conductor in substantially as set system, a series of line conductors, and a cor-' responding series of local conductors at each end of the line conductors, operators instruments and source of electric supply connected to the local conductors, and a progressive 011'- cuit closing connection interposed between the ends of the line conductors and the local conductors, and means for intermittently revolving the progressive circuit closing connections to contact synchronously with the opposite ends of the line conductors successively, substantially as set forth.

4. In an improved telegraph or telephone system, the combination with a series of line conductors, and a local conductor at each end of the line conductor, operators instruments and source of electric current supply connected to the local conductors, and a progressive circuit closing connection at each end of the line conductors, and connected to the local conductors, and mechanism to revolve said progressive circuit closing con.- nection, of a circuit and source of electrlc supply, an electro-magnet located in said circuit and cloclrmechanism to alternately make and break the circuit to allow the progressive circuit closing connections to be synchron usly revolved to contact with the opposite odds of each line conductor successively, substantially as set forth.

5. In an improved telegraph or telephone system, a'series of line conductors, a shaft carrying a progressive circuit closing connection at each end of the line conductors, a toothed escapement wheel carrying a drum mounted upon each shaft, and a cord secured to said drum and a weight attached to said cord, a lever arm engaging each toothed escapement wheel,and means for tripping said lever arm at intervals to allow the weights to descend and cause the intermittent and synchronous revolution of the progressive circuit closing connections, at both ends of each line conductor successively, substantially as set forth.

6. In ail-improved telegraph or telephone system, a series of line conductors, and corresponding local conductors, a progressive circuit closing connection interposed between each end of the line conductors and the local conductors, comprising a cylinder mounted upon a revoluble shaft, a toothed escapement wheel and drum mounted upon said shaft, and a cord and weight attached to said drum, in combination with a battery grounded at one pole, a wire or conductor from the opposite pole connecting with the progressive circuit closing connection, operators instruments and electro-magnet located on said conductor, a support and a spring contracted bell crank lever pivotally carried by said support and engaging the toothed escapement wheel, an armature secured tosaid lever, and a clock mechanism toaltcrnately make and break the-circuit, and located on the conductor between the battery and the electro magnet, and adapted to allowthe weight to intermittently rotate the progressive circuit clos- 5 ing connections synchronously at each end of the line conductors, substantially as set forth.

7. An improved telegraph or telephone system, comprising a sealed casing, a series of line conductors interposed and connecting 0 said casings, a shaft journaled in suitable supports ineach casing, a circuit closing cylinder mounted upon each shaft, a serieswof local conductors connecting the cylinders with the series of lineconductors, a toothed 5 escapement wheel and a drum mounted uponeach shaft and a weight for operating the same, a stationary disk suitab y supported .around each shaft and interposed between the escapementwheel and cylinder, a series V '0 of conducting plates arranged on the disk and connecting corresponding line conductors, and adapted to be successively connected to the operators instruments and batteries, as the progressive revoluble movement of the 5 circuit closing cylinder takesplace, substantially as set forth.

8. An improved telegraph or telephone system, comprising a series of line conductors, a sealed, casing connected with each end of rsaidline conductors, a revoluble shaft journaled in, suitable supports" in said casing, a

circuit 'osiingcylinder of insulating material having serics'ofconductors,andcorresponddu'etin-gplates, and ahcircuit comprisinga145 battery grounded at one pole and a wire connecting the opposite pole with the circuit closing cylinder, through a fixed post 7, a wire also connected to the circuit closing cylinder at the opposite end of the line, through 50 a corresponding fixed post 7 and with the ground, an electro magnet located upon each wire and interposed betweep the ground and the cylinder, operators instrumentsalso mounted upon each wire, and a clock mechg anism in the circuit to'make and break the circuit alternately to allow the weight to, intermittently move the progressive circuit closing cylinder, substantially as set forth.

Intestimony whereof Iaffix my signaturein 60 the presence oftwo'witness'es.

WALLACE R. KIRK.

Witnesses:

MAUD FITZPATRICK, MARTIN P. SMITH. 

